Posted November. 21, 2000 21:21,
If it is true that the government is restricting North Korean Workers¡¯ Party ex-secretary Hwang Jang-Yop's freedom of speech, that is a big mistake. No one knows better than secretary Hwang about the way the North Korean regime works. The North Korean political exile lived his entire life in North Korea as one of the few power elites in Pyongyang. As such, his views will only help us better understand North Korean society and would do little to confuse our views on North Korea.
The government obviously worries about the possible adverse effects Hwang's criticism of North Korea may have on South-North relations. This reflects the government's somewhat excessive apprehension about North Korea's negative response to Hwang's bearing in Seoul. But, we should be able to create an atmosphere between the two Koreas to frankly talk about what is right and wrong, no matter how precious it is for us to keep the present momentum for inter-Korean rapprochement. It will in no way be conducive to the keeping of sound inter-Korean relations if we are to withhold our rightful criticisms of North Korea for fear of Pyongyang's anger about them.
Moreover, the government is unduly curtailing Hwang's basic human rights in view of the ban of National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Hwang's activities: no meetings or interviews with politicians and journalists; no outside lectures; no publishing his writings and ``National Reunification,'' a periodical published by the North Korean refugees' fraternity, and no participation in civilian campaigns for the democratization of North Korea.
Granted, Hwang has special backgrounds and circumstances that the government would have to bear in mind in monitoring his activities in the South. But, he is a citizen of the Republic of Korea, and yet he is denied the freedom to write and speak without any hindrance. How can we, then, possibly call ourselves citizens of a nation that respects human rights and the freedom of speech?
The NIS' excuse is that the bans were only an advisory, not a compulsory, measure in order to protect Hwang from the heightened danger of terrorist acts against him due to his campaign to topple the North Korean regime. But, we find it hard to understand that the NIS' protective concern required restrictions on Hwang's rights and opportunities to speak and write. If we can pride ourselves on the fact that ours is a liberal democratic society, our foremost concern should rather be none other than the protection of those human rights.
The NIS tells us that Hwang has enjoyed freedom of activities under its protection. It adds that Hwang of his own accord refused to have an interview with a particular politician (a former President) and declined to appear before the National Assembly's committee as a referential person. NIS Director Lim Dong-Won also testified at the parliamentary audit and inspection that Hwang is assured of his freedom of activity. But, Hwang states that he submitted Friday a written plea to Director Lim to allow him freedom of activity. If the government restricted Hwang's activities and yet told us that he is a free person, this is nothing but a blatant lie on the government's part.
Freedom to express diverse views and the winning of a national consensus are most imperative if we are going to successfully push forward our North Korea policies. If the government tries to bar the free expression of any individual's views just because his views go against its policies, it will be impossible for the government to arrive at a national consensus.